HEALING SPACES IN ARCHITECTURE

Abstract

Winston Churchill concisely expressed the effect of architecture and our surroundings with the comment that: “We shape our buildings and later they shape us.” The intent of this paper is to explore how architecture can inform healing or provide spaces and events where healing can take place. We as human beings have an inner connection with our environment by physical, mental, emotional and spiritual means. This connection can create a dynamic life that people can thrive in every aspect. Through work, aging or learning, people are able to participate and contribute to this connection with our environment. Furthermore, the arts and art therapy have, over the years, been used to heal different aliments such as cancer, mental illness, aids, addiction and the elderly have been successful in doing so as it heals across all ages and race. The question I pose is can architecture do the same? Besides, can architecture play a superior role in healing? In our built environment we often interact with the buildings themselves without realizing the great influence that such built environments and surroundings hold. Can we create those interactions by evidence based design methods? Mental health has been a debated topic to centuries and still today, the common being has not grasped its complexities that bound us all unique. This research paper represents an attempt to summarize my findings on the role of planning and architecture in the healing process.